AT WIT'S END: Sirius ACQUIRING SIGNAL/NO CHANNEL

inlacal · #1 08-22-2007, 10:03 PM

I bought a receiver because I thought mine was bad.
Only to continue to get the ACQUIRING SIGNAL (flashing) followed (inevitably) by NO CHANNEL and then back to ACQUIRING SIGNAL...Over and over...

When I disconnect the antenna leads, the Nav-display states NO ANTENNA...Clearly it is reading the antenna being connected.

I've checked the wiring from the roof to the connector (note, my antenna is not mounted in the spoiler, it is on the roof). My wiring is not pinched by the hatch.

Can anyone shed some light on what is going on?

My guess is a bad antenna, but I do not see how it can go bad...It's just an antenna and it is sealed at that, correct?

Tom G. · #2 08-22-2007, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inlacal

I bought a receiver because I thought mine was bad.
Only to continue to get the ACQUIRING SIGNAL (flashing) followed (inevitably) by NO CHANNEL and then back to ACQUIRING SIGNAL...Over and over...

When I disconnect the antenna leads, the Nav-display states NO ANTENNA...Clearly it is reading the antenna being connected.

I've checked the wiring from the roof to the connector (note, my antenna is not mounted in the spoiler, it is on the roof). My wiring is not pinched by the hatch.

Can anyone shed some light on what is going on?

My guess is a bad antenna, but I do not see how it can go bad...It's just an antenna and it is sealed at that, correct?

Perform the following steps:

1. Remove battery cables, negative first
2. Touch battery cable terminals together (away from battery) for +5 seconds, a small spark is normal as this is stored power draining from the system.
3. Allow cables to remain disconnected for about 5-7 minutes
4. Reconnect battery cables onto battery, negative last.

Let me know if these steps correct the problem

inlacal · #3 08-23-2007, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom G.

Perform the following steps:

1. Remove battery cables, negative first
2. Touch battery cable terminals together (away from battery) for +5 seconds, a small spark is normal as this is stored power draining from the system.
3. Allow cables to remain disconnected for about 5-7 minutes
4. Reconnect battery cables onto battery, negative last.

Let me know if these steps correct the problem

Tom,

I'll perform this tomorrow.

What's the genesis of this procedure? What do you think has occured? I removed the fuse on the receiver a few times to sort of replicate this process...Is that not the same thing?

Chris

Tom G. · #4 08-23-2007, 12:11 AM

I've seen where the Sirius needed a kickstart to get going, sometimes the initialization process was not completed properly. Sometimes, you can get away with pulling the fuses - you can try that first if you like.

inlacal · #5 08-23-2007, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom G.

I've seen where the Sirius needed a kickstart to get going, sometimes the initialization process was not completed properly. Sometimes, you can get away with pulling the fuses - you can try that first if you like.

Tom,

When I had the car apart today, I did try pulling the fuses...To no avail.

What's occuring really doesn't make sense.

I looked over the antenna line mm by mm. No integrity issues in the wire.

As stated, I replaced the receiver thinking the first receiver was bad...But both receivers are doing the same thing which leads me to believe it is an antenna issue...But, as you know, the antenna piece is a relatively unremarkable cable from the receiver to the roof antenna...And the system worked perfectly for three years before it started doing this...

I'm really at a loss as to what it could be.

Chris

charan · #6 08-25-2007, 02:22 AM

Chris,

I had the EXACT same problem with my Sirius radio. In the end it turned out that the antenna itself had failed although it was completely intact with no signs of physical damage/wear. Went to a local electronics store and purchased a new antenna, plugged it in and 'voila' no more ACQUIRING/NO CHANNEL. I was told that with time some of the antennas just simply fail.

Hope this helps,
Charan

inlacal · #7 08-25-2007, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charan

Chris,

I had the EXACT same problem with my Sirius radio. In the end it turned out that the antenna itself had failed although it was completely intact with no signs of physical damage/wear. Went to a local electronics store and purchased a new antenna, plugged it in and 'voila' no more ACQUIRING/NO CHANNEL. I was told that with time some of the antennas just simply fail.

Hope this helps,
Charan

Charan,

Great news...It's the only thing it could be, at this point, because it certainly isn't the receiver. What store did you go to/what kind (model/part#) of Sirius antenna did you get?

Chris

Tom G. · #8 08-25-2007, 12:13 PM

We use the Terk antennas since they have the proper locking connector, but the Sirius "dot" antenna can be used. It's a tight fit - but works.

inlacal · #9 08-25-2007, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom G.

We use the Terk antennas since they have the proper locking connector, but the Sirius "dot" antenna can be used. It's a tight fit - but works.

Tom,

My antenna is rooftop-mounted. Is the Terk antenna the one you put inside the rear hatch-spoiler?

Where you get your Terk's from?

Chris

Tom G. · #10 08-25-2007, 01:03 PM

We deal directly with the manfactuer, here is a link to the item you need:

Sirius Satellite Radio Roof Mount Antenna
http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...roducts_id=379

We've got plenty of these in stock and can ship as early as Monday morning. These are the same antennas as BMW uses, only 3/4 the size.